Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Jan 09: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram warned on Friday that the Army would be called if necessary to tackle the escalating crisis arising out of the strike by officers of public sector oil firms.
"I can't go into the details but if someone from the Army has to be called, they will be called," Chidambaram said.
Addressing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, the Home Minister said that he was willing to meet the striking officers, "but they must come to meet me".
Noting that demands of the employees was inappropriate, Chidambaram said, “The Jagannath Committee Report was implemented across the board. There may be some legitimate grievances and they are bound to be. But they can be resolved amicably. They are officers and not in workman category."
He informed the reporters that CCEA meeting was postponed in the morning due to time constraint but the Cabinet was briefed about the ongoing strike by the Oil PSU officers.
“The Crisis Management Group has taken certain decisions this morning, which have been communicated to state governments and other authorities,” he added.
While assuring the reporters that steps are being taken to ensure there is no shortage of fuel supplies, he stopped short of making any promises that there will be no shortages.
“Oil PSUs like HPCL, BPCL were functioning properly and the problem lies with IOC, ONGC and GAIL I believe,” he said adding, “The striking officers need to understand that they are placing an intolerable burden on the people."
In a bid to put emotional pressure on the striking employees, he said, “The striking officers need to understand that this strike is causing great damage to the economy. They need to realise that how will the mothers cook food for their children if there is no fuel? How will the buses and trucks run if there is no diesel or petrol? How will the industries, fertiliser plants, or power units run if there is no fuel?”
Chidambaram concluded by appealing the oil PSUs to end their strike immediately considering the larger interest of the nation.
Meanwhile, Oil Secretary R S Pandey has said that the Army has been called in for oil cargo movement at Mathura oil refinery.
First Published: Friday, January 09, 2009, 00:00